“There She Spouts”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 62, 4 June 1927, Page 13

“There She Spouts”

SOUTHERN WHALING SEASON OPENS The thrilling cry of “There she spouts!” from the look-out man on the mast-head rouses the wnoie crew of the whaling-ships to activity. It was once heard frequently on our coasts. In fact, the whaling industry had much to do with early settlement in New Zealand. Now, the oily, smelly whaleship is seldom seen in the North. It is years since she put in to Auckland Harbour. In the South, however, there is a good deal of activity during the whaling season. This opened a few days ago in Marlborough, when the first whales of the 1927 season were observed from the look-out station, slowly barging their way through Cook Strait. In a few seconds, says the Marlborough “Express,” the launches of the rival whaling parties were in pursuit and the J. A. Perano party’s new launch, Miss Liberty, had the honour of making the first capture of the season. The sea, however, was rough, and the attempt to tow the .carcase to the try-out works proved fruitless, the hawser having to be cut and the prize abandoned. The E. C. Perano party met with a mishap in attempting to negotiate the rip at the entrance to Tory Channel, when they set out after the whales. Their launch, the Surprise, reeled dizzily from the crest of a huge sea into the following trough, and the gunner, Kelly Toms, was thrown heavily against the rail, with the result that he broke a small bone in his arm. He was brought to Picton Hospital for treatment. The engine of the Surprise sustained slight damage.